Apparatus for sampling molten metal

ABSTRACT

A sampling crucible is disclosed with an asymmetrically placed divider, partitioning the crucible into two communicating chambers, one containing aluminum wire and a port, the other one housing a thermoelement. The divider has a tongue projecting through the bottom of the crucible and carrying a second thermoelement, effective outside of the crucible but covered for protection. The divider is constructed to integrate a lid for the crucible and a socket. Connecting wires for the thermoelements run through the divider, lid and socket.

United States Patent 11 1 Bardenheuer et al. 1 1 Sept. 4, 1973 [54]APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING MOLTEN 3,685,359 8/1972 Boron 73 354 METAL [75]Inventors: Friedrich Bardenheuer,

Duisburgfluckingen; Steffen Primary Exammer-R1chard C. Quelsser Dam",Duisburggrossenbaum; Assistant Examine rDen1s E. Corr Manned HolmanAtt0rneyRalf H. Sie'gemund Duisburg-Mundelheim, all of Germany [73]Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschatt,

Dusseldorf, Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: May 24, 1972 A sampllngcruc1ble 1s d1sclosed with an asymmetrically [21] PP' 256,379 placeddivider, partitioning the crucible into two communicating chambers, onecontaining aluminum wire 52 us. 01 73/354, 73/17 R, 73/4254, and a P theWe housing a thermoelemem- 73/DIG 9, 136/234 The divider has a tongueprojecting through the bottom 51 Int. c1.....: .(G0lk 13/12, 00111 25/06of the Crucible and Carrying a thermoelemen" [58] Field of Search73/354, 4254 DIG 9, effective outside of the crucible but covered forprotec- 73/17 R 343 R, 343 B; 13 /234 231; 1 4/4 tlOn. The divider isconstructed to integrate a lid for the crucible and a socket. Connectingwires for the ther- [56] References Cited moeiements run through thedivider, lid and socket.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1972 Cullins 73/17 R 11 Claims, 5 DrawingFigures Patented Sept. 4, 1973 5 Sh66t3-Sh 1 Fly Patented Sept. 4, 19733 Sheets-Sheet 2 fly. I

Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,756,082

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING MOLTEN METAL BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to equipment for sampling moltenmetal, particularly molten steel in a blown converter. Particularly, theinvention relates to a device affixed to a tubular lance or holder andincluding a sampling crucible with internal and external thermo-DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the preferred embodimentof the invention, it is suggested that the insulation free samplingcrucible is partitionable by means of a removable divider wall, so as toestablish two chambers communicating in the bottom region of thecrucible. The divider extends in direction of the lance and has a tonguethat extends into and through the bottom of the crucible. Aluminum wireis disposed in one of the chambers; one thermoelement is disposed in theother chamber above the tongue, and the second (external) thermoelementis disposed on the outer front end face of the tongue, underneath thetraversed bottom of the crucible. In accordance with the preferredconstruction, the divider wall supports all sensitive parts. Thatdivider wall has rather simple geometric configuration and is, therefor,easy to make. This construction, in turn, permits the crucible itself tobe without insulation. Moreover, the divider wall, the lid for thecrucible and a socket can be made from two similarly shaped,complementing halves with internal indentations and recesses etc. forthe conductors. Alternatively, divider wall, lid and tube end can bemade in integral, single piece construction. The crucible should have anarrowing taper towards the bottom.

The one thermoelement as disposed in the one chamber, should havesufficient distance from the wall of crucible in all directions.Therefor, it is advisable to provide a certain asymmetry in thepartitioning. The chamber containing the aluminum wire has an inlet portand should be smaller than the geometrically correct half of thecrucible by about the thickness of the divider wall. That asymmetry inchamber volume is beneficial for obtaining intimate mixing of steel,flowing through the port, with the aluminum in the smaller chamber, sothat steady state conditions prevail in the material as flowing into thesecond chamber.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention, it is believed that the invention, the objects and featuresof the invention and further objects, features and advantages thereofwill be better understood from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section through a sampling cricuble with partition andarrangement of components in accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe invention; 1

FIG. 2 is a section view along lines II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a respectively front elevation of the divider used in thecrucible illustrated on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a section view through lines lV--IV in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a modified construction for thedivider wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Proceeding now to the detailed descriptionof the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a crucible 2 made of fireclay. The crucible does not require a thermal insulation. The cruciblehas tapering-configuration towards the bottom level region 1. Referencenumeral 3 denotes the axis of the tubular lance to which the crucible isaffixed. The crucible is provided with a divider wall 6 being of singlepiece construction and integral with a lid 7 for the crucible and asocket 8.

Socket 8 is received by an insulative sleeve 9 such as a cardboardferrule. The plug connection between socket 8 and lance tube is notillustrated and is conventional. However, the illustration revealsclearly that the upper connections for enamelled electrical conductors10 as transversing divider 6, lid 7 and socket 8, are protected againstheat. The lid 7 hasrcessed a portion 13 which is received by the upperportion of crucible 2 and is bonded thereto.

The divider wall or partition 6 has been inserted, i.e., placed into thecrucible, so that a tongue 11, which is integral with divider 6,projects through the bottom of the crucible. The two chambers 4 and 5 asestablished by the wall communicate near the bottom, due to theprovision of recessed portions 12 which are also instrumental in thedefinition of the tongue as pronounced element. A lateral port 18 leadsinto chamber 4, but the port is normally closed by an aluminum stopper17, until the crucible is immersed in molten steel.

The divider wall with integral lid and socket is shown enlarged in FIGS.3 and 4, and is provided with a recess 20 for receiving the wires thatlead to the thermoelements. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the wall6 is asymmetrically arranged on lid 7 so that chamber 4 is smaller thanchamber 5. An axial center plane is about flush with the surface of wall6 that faces chamber 5. Accordingly, chamber 4 has volume reducedrelative to chamber 5 by about the volume occupied by the wall itself.

A thermoelement l4 sits on wall 6 facing chamber 5 and having positionabove tongue 11. The tip of the elemet 14 has equal distance from thedivider and from the wall of the crucible. A second thermoelement 15extends from the lower end face of tongue 11, outside of the crucible.That element 15 measures the temperature of the molten metal in thevicinity of the crucible. The thermoelement is covered by a steel cap 16protecting the element against slag and burning off when inserted in themelt.

In operation, the crucible is affixed by means of socket 8 to a tubularlance which is cooled and can be lowered mechanically into a converter.As can be seen from the drawing, the outside of the crucible tapers indirection of advance and is not provided with any protrusions or thelike. Thus, the crucible can readily traverse the slag zone; cover 16protecting thermoelement 15 also in this respect.

As stated, the crucible has a lateral entrance port 18, in its upperregion, the port being intitially closed by an aluminum plug 17 whichmelts in the steel. As soon as the port 18 is open, steel pours throughthe port into chamber 4, past a large aluminum surface of the wire 19contained in this chamber. The illustration of but one wire coil is tobe understood only representatively. Utilization of wire is preferred asit offers a very large surface for a given quantity of aluminum. Thesteel will melt the aluminum quite rapidly.

As the chamber 4 is smaller than chamber 5, aluminum and steel miximmediately quite intimately. Thus, the mixture flowing into chamber 5from underneath the wall 6 is quieted down, and the immediate vicinityof element 14 is representative for the content of chamber 5 as a whole.

FIG. 5 illustrates a somewhat modified construction for the divider. Inthis case, divider lid and socket are made from two complementinghalf-pieces, which, when combined, provide for an internal recess 21 forthe conductors 1(1 as leading to the electrical components of the probe.FIG. 5 shows only one half, the other half is similarly constructed. Thefigure shows particularly a view onto the surface which will be coveredby a similar surface of the complementary element.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but allchanges and modifications thereof not constituting departures from thespirt and scope of the invention are intended to be included.

We claim:

1. Crucible for sampling steel, for example, in a converter, comprising:

a divider wall in the crucible for partitioning the crucible into afirst and second chamber, communicating in the bottom region of thecrucible;

a tongue integral with the wall and extending through the bottom of thecrucible;

means defining an entrance port to the first chamber,

the first chamber containing some aluminium;

a first thermoelement extending from the wall into the second chamberabove the tongue;

at second thermoelement extending from the tongue outside of thecrucible; and

means in the crucible for accomodating wires leading to thethermoelements and out of the upper part of the crucible.

2. Crucible as in claim 1, the divider wall provided with recesses foraccommodating the said wires.

3. Crucible as in claim 1, the crucible having inside and outsidetapering configuration in direction toward the bottom.

4. Crucible as in claim 1, the divider wall being asymmetricallyarranged in the crucible so that the first chamber is smaller by aboutthe thickness ofthe divider wall.

5. Crucible as in claim 1, the divider wall being integral with a lidfor the crucible and a socket for connection to a tube-like holder forthe crucible.

6. Crucible as in claim 1, wherein the first thermoelement is disposedin the second chamber at about equal distances from the crucible walland from the divider wall.

7. Crucible as in claim 1, wherein the second thermoelement is coveredby a steel cap.

8. Crucible as in claim 1, wherein the divider wall is constructed fromtwo superimposed parts.

9. Crucible as in claim 8, wherein halves for a lid and for a socket areintegral with each part.

10. Crucible as in claim 9, wherein the accommodating means are definedby recesses in the parts, being mutually covered upon superimposingthem, for receiving the wires.

11. Crucible as in claim 1, with an integral lid for the crucible and asocket, the socket covered by a cardboard ferrule.

1. Crucible for sampling steel, for example, in a converter, comprising:a divider wall in the crucible for partitioning the crucible into afirst and second chamber, communicating in the bottom region of thecrucible; a tongue integral with the wall and extending through thebottom of the crucible; means defining an entrance port to the firstchamber, the first chamber containing some aluminium; a firstthermoelement extending from the wall into the second chamber above thetongue; a second thermoelement extending from the tongue outside of thecrucible; and means in the crucible for accomodating wires leading tothe thermoelements and out of the upper part of the crucible. 2.Crucible as in claim 1, the divider wall provided with recesses foraccommodating the said wires.
 3. Crucible as in claim 1, the cruciblehaving inside and outside tapering configuration in direction toward thebottom.
 4. Crucible as in claim 1, the divider wall being asymmetricallyarranged in the crucible so that the first chamber is smaller by aboutthe thickness of the divider wall.
 5. Crucible as in claim 1, thedivider wall being integral with a lid for the crucible and a socket forconnection to a tube-like holder for the crucible.
 6. Crucible as inclaim 1, wherein the first thermoelement is disposed in the secondchamber at about equal distances from the crucible wall and from thedivider wall.
 7. Crucible as in claim 1, wherein the secondthermoelement is covered by a steel cap.
 8. Crucible as in claim 1,wherein the divider wall is constructed from two superimposed parts. 9.Crucible as in claim 8, wherein halves for a lid and for a socket areintegral with each part.
 10. Crucible as in claim 9, wherein theaccommodating means are defined by recesses in the parts, being mutuallycovered upon superimposing them, for receiving the wires.
 11. Crucibleas in claim 1, with an integral lid for the crucible and a socket, thesocket covered by a cardboard ferrule.